Nonprofit has helped find homes for 3,203 dogs and cats since forming in 2007.

Deanna Lee, the Alamo Area Partners for Animal Welfare’s president and executive director, says “As more pets are adopted, more strays can be rescued off San Antonio’s streets or from (Animal Care Services), thus reducing the strain on city resources.” She’s holding Feisty.

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Needs: AAPAW needs volunteers and donations of cash; a storefront in a busy shopping complex to serve as an adoption center; crates; dog and cat food; gently used blankets; towels and bedding; dog toys; and sweaters and coats for short-haired dogs.

By some estimates, there are more than 300,000 homeless dogs and cats in San Antonio.

And reducing that number can be a challenge.

But the Alamo Area Partners for Animal Welfare, a coalition of animal welfare organizations — shelters, rescues, spay/neuter clinics, veterinarians, and other pet service providers — is trying to help cut down that number.

Since it formed in December 2007, AAPAW has organized more than 60 adoption events throughout the city that have resulted in 3,203 dogs and cats finding homes.

To be clear, AAPAW is not a shelter and has no stand-alone office, said Deanna Lee, AAPAW's president and executive director of the nonprofit group.

Rescue groups often turn to AAPAW, which has no permanent adoption center, to help find rescued pets homes, Lee said. She said parking lots or empty buildings have served for the adoption events that have been held once or twice a month.

AAPAW is one of the organizations showcased during the San Antonio Express-News' 17th annual Grace of Giving series.

The coalition is seeking funding or donation of a storefront that could serve for an adoption center and office for seven-day-a-week adoptions. Volunteers also would be appreciated.

“Most member rescue organizations operate out of private residences and do not have permanent, regular adoption venues,” Lee said. “They rely on AAPAW events to find homes for their rescued pets. As more pets are adopted, more strays can be rescued off San Antonio's streets or from (Animal Care Services), thus reducing the strain on city resources.”

AAPAW also has established an emergency care fund to help homeless pets in need of life-saving medical care while attempting to find a shelter, rescue or foster home to assume the pets' future care and adoption.

Additionally, AAPAW helps connect pet owners to pet-friendly housing and other pet services, such as spay and neuter programs.

“By some estimates, there are 153,000 stray dogs and 150,000 stray cats in San Antonio, and they continue to multiply because they have not been spayed or neutered,” Lee said.

Lee noted the coalition has no overhead or administrative expenses, so all donations go directly to help San Antonio's homeless pets. AAPAW also needs crates, dog and cat food, gently used blankets, towels and bedding, dog toys and sweaters or coats for short-haired dogs.

“Any donations to us will help more than 50 of our member rescue groups and shelters,” Lee said. “We're committed to saving as many lives as possible and supporting the city's no-kill efforts. We want to see a day when there are no more homeless pets in San Antonio.”